2011 Summary (so far) and 2nd Surgery update

Wow, it has been a while since I have done an update. Perhaps no news is good news? It's been so long I'll do a brief summary of 2011 with regards to Carl's medical journey. I'll start with December, just 'cause.

Dec 27-Dec 30, 2011 Carl had inpatient Chemotherapy at Froedtert. They let him out one day early so that he could enjoy New Years Eve and Day with his family.

Carl had the hardest time recovering from this particular chemotherapy, and pain increased in his neck. The Doctors decided to operate on his neck to stabilize his neck and debulk the tumor, and the neck surgery was done on Jan 24, 2011. Carl was sent home from the hospital wearing a neck brace, which he wore for 23 plus hours a day, except in the shower, for weeks, and instructions not to drive.

After the surgery Carl was recovering (sort-of) but then the pain in his neck was getting worse. The surgeon saw Carl, took an X-ray, and determined that Carl's spinal fusion had failed, and included a screw pulling out. Carl had an emergency surgery on Feb 14, 2011 to repair the failed hardware. On this surgery they pulled out the screws and put in larger screws, used acrylic glue and more hardware, and fused Carl's neck from the base of his skull to C7.

Carl was released from the hospital on Wednesday, February 16, 2011. After a week or so, Carl felt good enough to start working again, although with reduced hours. Again, Carl was sent home from the hospital wearing a neck brace, which he wore for 23 plus hours a day, except in the shower, for weeks. He won't be able to drive a car for at least six weeks.

Life with the children, of course, continued, and the weekend of Feb 25-27, 2011 was particularily busy. Anthony (a freshman) was in a great musical for 4 days, Miranda (6th grade) was in forensics, and the three younger children had a piano recital, and poor weather made some things more difficult. We survived the activity, but Carl overdid it that weekend. The funny thing about overdoing things is that "hindsight is 20-20". After you overdo something, you know that hey - you overdid it, you shouldn't do that. But by then it is too late. Fortunately, Carl survived, with no ill effects.

The 2nd surgery's spinal fusion has lasted longer and worked better then the first surgery, so far. On Thursday, March 10, 2011 I took Carl to see the surgeon for a post-op appointment. Carl had an X-ray and the surgeon said things look great. He even said Carl could start wearing the neck brace less (an hour or two each day), and that Carl should start PT (Physical Therapy) next week.

This week, later today, in fact, Carl will meet with the radiation Doctor, and 'the doctors' will start planning the next link in the chain of treatment.

Feeling tired

Carl said to me today - 'I just don't know why I feel so tired right now.'

Hmmm... let me think? Maybe a large dose of Irinotecan and Vincristine on Thursday has something to do with it?

Or possibly surviving a weekend with four active children.

Whatever.

Thursday - the low day.

Well, Radiation is a cake-walk compared to chemotherapy.

I visited Carl twice Wednesday, August 11, 2010, and a little bit on Thursday afternoon, August 12, 2010. On Wednesday his voice was getting a bit hoarse, but he still used the stationary bike for way more then 30 minutes. Thursday is the worst day when he is getting the Adromycin - Ifosfamide chemotherapy combination. Carl basically won't eat today and will try to sleep most of the day away. There is an array of auxiliary drugs that he got for the side effects, but he still is feeling horrible.

Chemotherapy is like watching Carl age two decades in one week. He goes in fit, lean and lightly tanned, and then ages visibly each day. At least we know he will recover - after the chemotherapy course is over. Tomorrow (Friday) Carl will be lifted by the thought that he can drag his weary body out of the hospital, get disconnected, and go home to be left alone by the medical professionals.

Here is another funny thing about the inpatient chemotherapy. The third shift staff has to take blood daily between 11:00 PM to 3:00 AM. So Carl basically tries to stay awake until they come in so they don't have to wake him in the middle of the night to take the blood sample. Crazy, huh?

Leg Radiation Starts

This week Carl started the next phase of his treatment. This phase will be a dose of outpatient chemotherapy on Monday, pre-radiation. On Tuesday radiation treatments to the leg will start daily for 5 days (but on on weekdays only, not Saturday or Sunday). Then there will be one more infusion of chemotherapy drugs, followed by 10 days of radiation treatments to the leg. So many treats and treatments!

On Monday, April 19, 2010, Carl and I went in to the Froedtert Cancer Center, met with the oncologist, and then Carl checked into the day hospital and was given an infusion of chemotherapy drugs via his port that lasted a little over an hour. We left the Cancer Center before noon. Yeah for outpatient chemotherapy! (Someday I'll add what drugs they were, but not today.)

Carl felt fine, but I had asked him not to go to work and he had agreed, and so we had lunch, ran some errands and got the children from school, etc. Carl even went to the YMCA that evening (and some of the children went swimming). We joined the YMCA over spring break and the children are loving it.

On Tuesday April 20, 2010 Carl and I drove to Froedtert and Carl got his first radiation treatment (of 15) to his leg. (Carl calls it getting zapped.) After that, Carl went to work. Carl said the side effect from this chemotherapy seems to be mostly extreme thirst. He says he can't believe how thirsty he feels, even though he is drinking water until he sloshes.

On Wednesday April 21, 2010 Carl and I drove to Froedtert and Carl got his second radiation treatment to his leg. Radiation is fast - less then 10 minutes of treatment once the receptionist calls you. Then Carl went back to work. He went to the YMCA Wednesday night as well.

On Thursday April 22, 2010 Carl got his 3rd dose of radiation. When he came home from work he laid down for a nap and didn't get up until after 9:00 PM. He says he is amazed at how wiped out he feels. It kind of surprised me too. Now I just want to get him to the weekend so I can regroup my thoughts. I hope this nap is just a one night crash and burn... but fatigue is one of the common side effects of radiation.

When something unexpected happens, I get worried and concerned. (Like cancer isn't enough?).

On Friday April 23, 2010 Carl will get his 4th dose of radiation out of 15, and then he gets to stay home for the weekend. I hope you have a great weekend, I'm planning on enjoying mine relaxing at home. God Bless!